Jack Michael Rothman of Heathrow, Florida, passed away at the home he shared with his parents and younger brother, who all loved him so dearly. Jack Michael was 25 years of age.
Jack was born in Orlando, Florida. He was a lifelong parishioner at Annunciation Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Jack had a huge heart, a happy bounce to his step and an infectious zest for life. His handsome smile and his kind eyes lit up each room he entered. He had an endearing innocence about him, trusted everyone and never met a stranger. He noticeably appreciated the kind gestures of others and often shared stories of the people he met with his family and friends. Jack touched so many lives in very special ways.
Jack graduated from Crooms Academy of Information Technology where he was an AP Scholar and a gifted student. During his years at Crooms and at UCF Burnett Honors College Summer Institute, Jack became certified at a young age in many advanced computer programs. His skills as a programmer continued to grow throughout his life as he achieved further certifications. Jack studied at Seminole State College and University of Central Florida. He enjoyed learning about the theories of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking and the science of artificial intelligence, to name a few.
Jack had an extraordinary talent for learning foreign languages. English was his first language; he became fluent in Spanish and then Japanese. He loved everything about Japan, including her language, character sets, people, history and customs. As a sign of reverence and gratitude to others, Jack often lowered his head and upper torso as the Japanese do, in a bow. For the past 3 ½ years, over numerous hours each week, Jack studied privately with an owner/teacher at the Japanese Language Center. His teacher once described Jack’s seemingly easy and advanced learning of this most difficult language as a “miracle.” Jack passed the N2 and N3 Levels of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT is only given once per year in the United States) and was further studying to improve his skills. In December, Jack achieved a proficiency testing level equivalent to that of a Japanese high school student, a feat that qualified him to teach English to Japanese students in Japan. This was a plan Jack was looking forward to pursuing. Japan and her people were so close in his future Jack could almost reach out and touch them.
Jack was an eloquent speaker, a gifted writer, an avid reader and kept up to date on current events around the world on a daily basis. He often taught his family and friends new vocabulary, as he used the new words he learned in his daily speaking and writing. Jack was passionate about so many things, including his family, his dogs, music, philosophy, technology, numbers including the mathematical constant of Pi, Greek mythology and chess, along with the teachings of Buddha and the messages of Dr. Seuss. He loved to travel with his family to learn about people of other countries and their languages and traditions around our world.
Ever since Jack was a little boy, his interests became his passions. He worked hard to perfect them. He had a brilliant mind and an innate gift for learning. Whether sitting at the piano, computer or chess board, competing in an academic, music or chess competition, or running in a track meet, Jack gave his all and shined. Jack enjoyed playing the piano, harmonica and guitar. He firmly believed in justice and equality for all. He spent countless hours caring for the homeless and those less privileged, as well as cats and dogs seeking their forever homes.
Jack was devoted to his family and put many of his personal hopes, dreams and aspirations on hold the past few years, including his planned travels to Japan, to assist his family during his mother’s recent health challenges. He was an instrumental pillar for his family, always being there and lending his support.
Jack Michael is and always will be loved beyond measure. His passing has left an enormous void. He will be missed greatly by so many, including his mother and father, Cynthia (Gelinas) and Dr. Roy Rothman, his brother, Brendan A. Rothman, his maternal grandmother, Barbara Link Gelinas, his paternal grandparents, Bernard and Lynne Rothman, his Godparents, Amy (Joe) Gelinas Burke and John (Carole) Gelinas, Jr., his other aunts and uncles, Gregory (Sharon) Gelinas, Garrick (Dagmar) Gelinas and Jill (Tom) Rothman Jucarone, his cousins, Andrew, Jackson, Ryan, Claire, Emilie, Patrick, Brynn, Maxwell, Gavin, Harrison and Lillian, his dogs, and his friends, including his Japanese teacher, Ippei Koshiba.
Jack Michael was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, for whom he was named, John (Jack) G. Gelinas, and his paternal great-grandparents, Reina and Nathan Siegel, who simply adored him.
A prayer ceremony was held by Jack’s immediate family with Father Bill of Annunciation to bless Jack and to say I love you (or “WOOF”, as Jack would say). Jack’s funeral has not yet been planned due to COVID-19. A Catholic mass and celebration of Jack’s life will be scheduled at a later date when it is safe for his out of state family to travel to Florida to honor Jack Michael’s life.
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